Compelling evidences indicate a key role for regulatory T cells (T reg ) on the host response to cancer. The Wilms' tumor antigen (WT1) is overexpressed in several human leukemias and thus considered as promising target for development of leukemia vaccine. However, recent studies indicated that the generation of effective WT1-specific cytotoxic T cells can be largely affected by the presence of T regs . We have generated T-cell lines and clones that specifically recognized a WT1-84 (RYFKLSHLQMHSRKH) peptide in an HLA-DRB1*0402-restricted manner. Importantly, they recognized HLA-DRB1*04-matched fresh leukemic cells expressing the WT1 antigen. These clones exerted a T helper 2 cytokine profile, had a CD4 + CD25 + Foxp3 + GITR + CD127 À T reg phenotype, and significantly inhibited the proliferative activity of allogeneic T cells independently of cell contact. Priming of alloreactive T cells in the presence of T regs strongly inhibited the expansion of natural killer (NK), NK T, and CD8 + T cells and had an inhibitory effect on NK/NK T cytotoxic activity but not on CD8 + T cells. Furthermore, priming of T cells with the WT1-126 HLA-A0201-restricted peptide in the presence of T regs strongly inhibited the induction of anti-WT1-126 CD8 + CTL responses as evidenced by both very low cytotoxic activity and IFN-; production. Moreover, these T reg clones specifically produced granzyme B and selectively induced apoptosis in WT1-84-pulsed autologous antigen-presenting cells but not in apoptotic-resistant DR4-matched leukemic cells. Importantly, we have also detected anti-WT1-84 interleukin-5 + /granzyme B + / Foxp3 + CD4 + T regs in five of eight HLA-DR4 + acute myeloid leukemia patients. Collectively, our in vitro and in vivo findings strongly suggest important implications for the clinical manipulation of T regs in cancer patients. [Cancer Res 2008;68(15):6350-9]

Histiocytic disorders are an exceptionally rare group of diseases with diverse manifestations and a paucity of approved treatments, thereby leading to various challenges in their diagnosis and management. With the discovery of novel molecular targets and the incorporation of targeted agents in the management of various adult histiocytic disorders, their management has become increasingly complex. In an attempt to improve the understanding of the clinical features and management of common adult histiocytic disorders (Langerhans cell histiocytosis, Erdheim-Chester disease, Rosai-Dorfman disease, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis), we created this document based on existing literature and expert opinion.

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) is often recommended for patients with T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) in second or later complete remission ($CR2) and sometimes in high-risk (HR) patients in first complete remission (CR1). Between January 1995 and July 2009, 53 patients with HR TALL underwent allo-SCT at our institution. Median age was 18 years (range, 14-51). Thirty-two patients (60.3%) were in CR1, 18 (34%) were in $CR2, and 3 (5.7%) were in relapse. The cumulative incidence of nonrelapse mortality at 5 years was 22.5%. The cumulative incidence of grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) was 40.2%, and that of chronic GVHD was 43.7%. The majority of relapses (88.9%) occurred within 1 year after SCT. The cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) at 5 years was 35.6%. CIR was 29.8% in patients in CR1, 35.3% in patients in $CR2 and all patients transplanted in relapse had disease recurrence post-allo-SCT (P 5 .000). Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) at 5 years were 43.5% and 41.8%, respectively. The 5-year OS was 53.5% (95% CI 34.5%-72.5%) and 5-year DFS was 52% (95% CI 33%-71%) in patients who underwent allo-SCT in CR1, compared with 31.9% (95% CI, 9%-54.8%) and 29.4% (95% CI 7.6%-51.2%) in those who underwent allo-SCT in $CR2. On multivariate analysis, disease status at SCTremained significantly associated with OS (P 5.007), DFS (P 5.002), and CIR (P 5.000). The presence of extramedullary disease at diagnosis had no effect on the different outcomes. Grade II-IV acute GVHD was significantly associated with a lower OS (P 5.006) and DFS (P 5.01). Our data indicate that allo-SCTrepresents an effective treatment for HR TALL , particularly when performed in CR1.

Glanzmann thrombasthenia (GT) is a rare autosomal recessive bleeding disorder. Around 490 mutations in ITGA2B and ITGB3 genes were reported. We aimed to use targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS) to identify variants in patients with GT. We screened 72 individuals (including unaffected family members) using a panel of 393 genes (SHGP heme panel). Validation was done by Sanger sequencing and pathogenicity was predicted using multiple tools. In 83.5% of our cohort, 17 mutations were identified in ITGA2B and ITGB3 (including 6 that were not previously reported). In addition to variants in the two known genes, we found variants in ITGA2, VWF and F8. The SHGP heme panel can be used as a high-throughput molecular diagnostic assay to screen for mutations and variants in GT cases and carriers. Our findings expand the molecular landscape of GT and emphasize the robustness and usefulness of this panel.

No abstract

Our report lends credence to the safety and feasibility of administering anti-leukemic therapy in acute and chronic leukemias during pregnancy although acute leukemia patients had possibly a poor long term outcome compared to non-pregnant patients.

Background. We studied DNA chimerism in cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in patients treated with HSCT. Methods. Chimerism analysis was performed on CD3+ cells, polymorphonuclear (PMN) cells, and cfDNA using 16 small tandem repeat loci. The resulting labeled PCR-products were size-fractionated and quantified. Results. Analyzing samples from 191 patients treated with HSCT for nonneoplastic hematologic disorders demonstrated that the cfDNA chimerism is comparable to that seen in PMN cells. Analyzing leukemia patients (N = 126) showed that, of 84 patients with 100% donor DNA in PMN, 16 (19%) had evidence of clinical relapse and >10% recipient DNA in the plasma. Additional 16 patients of the 84 (19%) showed >10% recipient DNA in plasma, but without evidence of relapse. Eight patients had mixed chimerism in granulocytes, lymphocytes, and plasma, but three of these patients had >10% recipient DNA in plasma compared to PMN cells and these three patients had clinical evidence of relapse. The remaining 34 patients showed 100% donor DNA in both PMN and lymphocytes, but cfDNA showed various levels of chimerism. Of these patients 14 (41%) showed laboratory or clinical evidence of relapse and all had >10% recipient DNA in cfDNA. Conclusion. Monitoring patients after HSCT using cfDNA might be more reliable than cellular DNA in predicting early relapse.

Background: Emicizumab, a bispecific monoclonal antibody, bridges activated factor (F) IX and FX, replacing the function of missing activated FVIII in persons with hemophilia A (PwHA). The Phase IIIb, multicenter, single-arm STASEY study (NCT03191799) assessed the safety and efficacy of emicizumab prophylaxis in PwHA with FVIII inhibitors. Surgical experiences in STASEY are reported here. Methods: Following informed consent and ethics committee approval, PwHA aged ≥12 years with FVIII inhibitors received 3 mg/kg/week emicizumab for 4 weeks (loading dose), then 1.5 mg/kg/week for the remaining 2-year treatment period. Minor and major surgeries were managed per the investigators' discretion. The type and number of procedures performed, additional prophylaxis, and frequency and management of postoperative bleeds were analyzed. Surgeries occurring up to 28 days after the last dose of emicizumab were included, due to emicizumab's ~28-day half-life (Emicizumab Prescribing Information, United States Food and Drug Administration, 2017). Surgeries were documented using an electronic case report form by the treating physicians and classified as minor or major based on manual medical review (Santagostino, et al. Haemophilia, 2015). Bleed and prophylactic hemophilia medication data were recorded in the electronic Bleed Medication Questionnaire by participants. Case narratives were provided by trial investigators. Results: Overall, 46 patients reported ≥1 on-study surgery. Thirty-seven patients had 56 minor surgeries (central venous access device [CVAD], n=9; dental, n=20; joint, n=4; other, n=23) (Figure), one of which (skin laceration and suture insertion on Day 9) was performed during the loading phase. Twenty-four surgeries (42.9%) were managed with additional prophylactic medications (Table). Of these, 11/24 (45.8%) resulted in postoperative bleeds, of which 6/11 were treated (54.5%). Of surgeries managed without additional prophylactic medications, 15/32 (46.9%) resulted in postoperative bleeds, of which 5/15 (33.3%) were treated. A total of 13 patients had 22 major on-study surgeries (arthroplasty, n=13; other, n=9). 'Other' included hemorrhoid operations, coronarography, sigmoidectomy, colostomy, laparotomy and polypectomy. Eighteen (81.8%) major surgeries, including all arthroplasties, were managed with additional prophylactic medications (Table). Of these, 12/18 (66.7%) resulted in postoperative bleeds (including 10/13 arthroplasties), of which six (50.0%) were treated (all arthroplasties). Four (18.2%) major surgeries were managed without additional prophylactic medication, including three hemorrhoid operations in one patient, and a coronarography in a patient with acute myocardial infarction. One hemorrhoid operation resulted in a postoperative treated bleed. Major surgeries included a 55-year-old male with Grade 4 device dislocation of left knee prosthesis on Day 7, who was diagnosed with recurrent infection and prosthesis misalignment on Day 62. Amputation of the left leg above the knee was performed, with treatment including tranexamic acid and rFVIIa. A 61-year-old male with left knee prosthesis infection underwent left knee arthrodesis on Day 457, vacuum-assisted closure therapy on Day 495, skin grafting on Day 512, and left knee arthrodesis with skin flap placement on Day 527. Throughout these surgeries, the individual experienced recurrent joint bleeding and received rFVIIa. Neither of these individuals had a change in their study treatment due to these events. No thrombotic events (TEs) or thrombotic microangiopathies (TMAs) related to surgeries were observed. Conclusions: In the STASEY study of PwHA with FVIII inhibitors receiving emicizumab prophylaxis, most minor surgical procedures were performed without additional prophylactic coagulation factor and did not result in postoperative treated bleeds. Therefore, emicizumab alone provided adequate hemostatic coverage for some PwHA undergoing certain types of minor surgery, such as tooth extraction and CVAD removal. Major surgeries were safely performed with additional coagulation prophylaxis. Management of surgeries with rFVIIa did not result in TE or TMA. In case of bleeds, a bleed management plan should be in place. Effects of emicizumab on coagulation and assays may persist for up to 6 months after the last dose, which may be relevant when planning postoperative treatment. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Castaman: Uniqure: Honoraria; Bayer: Honoraria; Sobi: Honoraria; CSL Behring: Honoraria; Novo Nordisk: Honoraria; Kedrion: Honoraria; LFB: Honoraria; Grifols: Honoraria; Werfen: Honoraria; Biomarin: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; F Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Honoraria. Windyga: Swixx BioPharma: Honoraria; Octapharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sobi: Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi-Aventis: Honoraria, Research Funding; Werfen: Honoraria; Bayer AG: Honoraria; Aspen: Honoraria; Alfasigma: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Shire: Honoraria, Research Funding; Alnylam Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Sanofi/Genzyme: Honoraria, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Honoraria, Research Funding; Alexion: Honoraria; CSL Behring: Honoraria; Rigel Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Novo Nordisk: Honoraria, Research Funding; Baxalta: Honoraria, Research Funding. Alzahrani: Sobi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre: Current Employment. Robson: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Ended employment in the past 24 months. Sanabria: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company. Howard: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Jiménez-Yuste: Octapharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sobi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BioMarin: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; NovoNordisk: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Grifols: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.